How a Clearing student is making waves in ocean science
Tsian Deslandes has set up an initiative to encourage more people - and greater diversity - into her subject
Since coming to the University through Clearing in 2019, Tsian Deslandes has thrown herself into uni life and her ocean science course.
She has attended conferences, signed up to be a University student ambassador, and worked in the Clearing call centre every year to help incoming students through the same process she once experienced.
Now her drive has seen her create a new initiative, , to show everyone that they can have a career in marine science and its already having a positive impact internationally.
Ive been fortunate to have some incredible opportunities, and I want others to know they can have them too.
Mermaids Beyond Borders came to me as an idea when I attended the Coastal Futures Conference, which was a large UK ocean conference hosting academics and industry from all over the UK.
I got to network and meet so many amazing people, but I realised there wasnt a huge amount of diversity in the room. Not just in terms of gender or race, but disability too. As a disabled woman I have Erbs Palsy, which limits mobility in my arms and shoulders I wanted to do something about it, and Mermaids Beyond Borders was born.
Tsian Deslandes
Tsian at the Coastal Futures conference with fellow students, Will and Freya
Tsian at the CEFAS conference
Making an impact
Within just three months, Tsian has established links with organisations worldwide and run projects with international reach, including:
- The Oceans Love Story: A storytelling campaign launched for World Ocean Day 2025, uplifting ocean-connected voices across cultures and abilities.
- Blue Hands Project (in development): Creating ocean sign language videos to make marine education accessible to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
- Breathe Blue (in planning): Focused on adaptive diving and ocean access for people with disabilities.
- Ocean Bytes: An education and storytelling branch, delivering bite-sized explainers, webinars, and youth-friendly content. She is also working on a podcast called A Love Note to the Islands, spotlighting islander and underrepresented perspectives.
Tsian has also spoken at international conferences including MISSiversary, the 5th anniversary event for US-based Minorities in Shark Sciences and developed a significant social media following across LinkedIn and Instagram. Shes in the process of turning Mermaids Beyond Borders into a Community Interest Company.
Its grown quite quickly and, like any venture, Im working out exactly what I want to do with it in order for it to have a long and lasting impact.
For me, if just one disabled person, or person from a lower socio-economic background thinks ocean science might be for me when they wouldnt have before, then thats amazing.
I still have my own ambitions of working with marine mammals and thats now expanded to include sharks too. What Im hoping to do alongside it is ensure the new venture reaches as many people as possible.
The ocean doesnt have borders, so why should we?
做厙賤躇 opens doors
Tsians tenacity was rewarded with the Resilience award at the Beacon Awards hosted by the 做厙賤躇 Students Union.
Her hard work also sees her mentor with widening access initiative Opportunity 做厙賤躇 as well as the Are we included? programme for looked-after children; and she is a mentee in the Universitys careers mentoring scheme, where shes mentored by Ali Hood, Director of the Shark Trust.
Up next for Tsian is supporting students in the Universitys Clearing call centre, followed by a trip to the Bahamas for fieldwork and research experience through the Universitys Ocean Science programme.
Winning at the 2025 Beacon Awards
Tsian with Professor Suanne Gibson at Opportunity 做厙賤躇 celebration event
All of the support Ive received has been amazing. I didnt think University would be for me, but applied through Clearing and here I am.
Coming to 做厙賤躇 continues to be the best decision I ever made.
做厙賤躇 opens doors, and I want to help others realise that too.
